[Samurai]

Originally Posted by Thilak29

Do you consider their invite and your trip was a prelude to introduction of hybrids in India in a bigger way?

Obviously, I can't think of any other reason to bring 25 journalists from 5 countries to Japan for one week. And 18 new models in next two years is more than significant.

Originally Posted by Thilak29

Did you feel at home ( Japan ) Samurai ?

Originally Posted by rajesh.sml

I wonder why this is not prevelant in India, the only thing comes to mind for cost being so high is zero localization.

Originally Posted by Grace

Localisation is not the issue as entire CBU is imported and the duty payable is >100%, so the car should actually cost only 12~14 lakhs

If the government waives the import duty on EV and HV cars for 5 years, that alone can change the Hybrid scene in India. Meanwhile carmakers can initiate the localization effort, and be ready for local production by the end of the import duty holiday.

[Grace]

Originally Posted by Samurai

If the government waives the import duty on EV and HV cars for 5 years, that alone can change the Hybrid scene in India. Meanwhile carmakers can initiate the localization effort, and be ready for local production by the end of the import duty holiday.

Sharath, Since you are at it, what do you think Honda had in mind when they were doling out 8 lakh discount on their electric car? If pricing was the issue, then they would've know before hand that India is a price sensitive market. Without proper awareness for the car buying public, (explanation on cost vs benefit analysis) nobody would be willing to spend $$$ on little known technology. Trust Honda has learnt its lesson the hard way.

Andy

[Samurai]

I think both Toyota and Honda learned the lesson the hard way. Now Toyota has done a major effort to educate the media, who will in turn educate the buyers. However, unless Indian government delivers big to smoothen the hybrid adoption, the party won't even start.

[Grace]

Sharath,
I beg to differ on this. while Honda learnt the lesson that hard way, Toyota would probably take this learning to higher level. The strength of Toyota is Not Quitting the Market Place in a Downturn.

Andy

[GTO]

Originally Posted by Samurai

Now Toyota has done a major effort to educate the media, who will in turn educate the buyers.

No education required.

Let the first batch of Toyota Hybrid owners tell their friends / colleagues about getting 25 kpl in urban driving conditions. If a Prius can give 50 mpg, a lighter B2 hatch / C1 sedan hybrid will give much more.

Then, watch the snowball effect. Nothing works like word of mouth in India.

As rightly stated, Toyota is definitely onto something big with hybrids in India. A petrol which delivers stupendously high fuel economy will attract buyers by the droves. This is technology that only a handful of manufacturers have mastered.

[ajmat]

If you go to Sri Lanka, the majority of new cars are Prius's if not small cars.

[Samurai]

Originally Posted by ajmat

If you go to Sri Lanka, the majority of new cars are Prius's if not small cars.

Is there any import duty on cars in Sri Lanka?

[mroptimist]

Originally Posted by Samurai

Toyota officials were tight-lipped about their Indian plans. Right now, Toyota has 19 Hybrid models across various segments. Not one of them will be coming to India to make use of the NEMMP.

Instead, Toyota will be creating 18 new Hybrid cars in the next two years, some of which will come to India.

Every other Indian auto magazine is reporting that Toyota will launch Camry hybrid this August (Autocar gave this date) and will be priced around 36 lakhs Ex-showroom (Autocar again).

What do you have to say to these reports?

[ajmat]

Originally Posted by Samurai

Is there any import duty on cars in Sri Lanka?

It is about 300% on all cars. Even taxis are now Toyota Prius's

[Samurai]

Originally Posted by mroptimist

What do you have to say to these reports?

That is a CBU. Japanese drive on the same side of the road as we do. So any Japanese car can be brought to India as CBU. Toyota didn't conduct this PR exercise to announce a 36L Camry CBU for India.

EDIT: Just saw it is CKD. But it doesn't make a big dent in the price.

[ashlil]

First, thank you Samurai for the report. Very nice, indeed.

I have been very curious about this hybrid cars. As we Indians love to ask "kitna deti hai?", this technology should have been very popular in India. But, somehow, it never materialized. The primary reason, I think, is price of ownership. It is bound to be niche, if Toyota prices it at 36 Lakhs. The only way to win Indian public over is to price the hybrid at below 10 Lakhs. It need not be the latest technology. It can be the first or second generation hybrid, but it needs to be accessible to people.

[Arch-Angel]

Wow, definitely a nice heads-up article Samu-saan, "arigato guzaimas" *bows*. If and only if, our current government decides to keep progressing with regards to technology, such great initiatives by toyota may be futile. Of course, the indian junta with their mileage craze will like a piece of this very tasty pie. Don't you think 25km/l is a great figure for a petrol-hybrid? I sure do.

[DrPriyankT]

Superb thread Samurai Sir. You totally deserve 5 stars for your article and the lucid explanation of Toyota's Hybrid System. Government of India should offer a good rebate and benefits to manufacturers and consumers of hybrids here, not only will it save our country a truck load of money by reducing fuel imports but it will also help us in doing our bit for the environment. I feel that slowly but steadily hybrid technology will get cheaper as more and more people purchase hybrids for their benefits and that will increase the economies of scale in reducing the total manufacturing cost. Also as Toyota has now teamed up with BMW, we will soon be seeing Beemers with the hybrid drives from Toyota, and if rumors are to be believed, Toyota-BMW are developing a Supra successor with a planned hybrid drive to take on the Honda/Acura NSX up for launch in 2015 which has a petrol-electric AWD system with petrol power going to the front wheels and petrol power staying behind with the rear wheels.
However hybrids have a large manufacturing foot print as the rare earth metals used in hybrids along with Lithium and Nickel used in batteries are mined at a few locations globally and the cost of transporting them to the factories in Japan and China which process the ores into metals and later into batteries. This transportation of raw materials leaves a huge carbon footprint which erodes the energy gains achieved by an hybrid in its life from an ore to a fully finished car. JC raised this debate in an episode of TG where IIRC he compared the ecological footprint of a BMW M3 with a Prius.
OT: Now I cannot wait for the Team BHPIAN report on the diesel hybrid which am sure will come up some time in the near future.

[headers]

@Sharat: Thanks for the details - Now, does the AC work full time when using the vehicle under electric power?

THAT is a question i always wanted to ask and learn!!

How does it affect the electrics of the vehicle? Also is there any visible signs of the vehicle starting while the change happens from electric to petrol ?

[Grace]

Originally Posted by headers

Also is there any visible signs of the vehicle starting while the change happens from electric to petrol ?

You should Test Drive a Prius. You will be amazed, there are no 'visible signs', not even a mild shudder, with power smooth power delivery.

Andy